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I write the Labyrinth (trailing lines of ink)

I seek this comfort
I seek this flight
despite no conflict,
it is my right
It’s sweet caressing in the dawning hour
It’s the breaking sunrise and the budding flower

I take my pen
this sturdy friend
It’s the only constant in my life
Least ‘til it ends
I write the labyrinth and it brings me home
Lines of ink that trace my journey through this green and watery dome

I’d come to terms with it
In the solitude
I never dreamed I’d meet some others,
with matching attitude
We place the letters, knowing what will come
And indeed it is the greater
gathered, than the sum

I kiss the hungry pages
Daily from my nib
I feel these words were woven through me
since I burned the crib
I take a wilted moment,
then I feel the lift
And with every word I write
I feel perspective shift

It is a humble offering
Never a demand
I send my love, my grief, my swirling mirth
to find an open hand
And if it reaches you,
soft breath to your soul
Well maybe somehow we’re connected and a tiny bit more whole

That’s why I do it
Least I think maybe
I need to touch into another heart
and set some longing free
It’s my addiction,
and I know it could be worse
But mostly it’s a blessing to embrace the writers curse
— Cloudthings, May 22, 2009

About the Author

Region, Country: Australia, regional Victoria, AUS

Favorite Poets: So many... Rumi, Spike Milligan, Keats. Many of the Neopoet clan, past & present. A myriad of song writers, Dylan, Jackson Browne, Lior, & I must add the poetic influence of painters, sculptors & creators across the world... Life really, especially the sky.

More from this author

Critiques

Morgana Tragic Proprietress

Morgana Tragic…

17 years ago

Awwwwwww

Anni, you have got to be one of my favorite poets here at Neo! You have a gorgeous and dreamy way with words. I'm very envious of your poems, they're always so beautiful compared to my dark ones. This almost feels surreal, like a beautiful voice speaking through whispers. It's fantastic!!!!!! As always, my friend, I love it. Peace N Always Love Katie
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

Thank you for the amazing compliment, it means a lot. There are

Actually on reread it looks like it needs a lot of work , I'm glad you like it though, there are a few redeeming bits, about us, we writers, it shows me I've come a way since joining Neo. Dearest Katie there is no comparison, we write differently that's all there is, I think you write brilliant stuff, & in my way I would like to do what you do, but I don't, I do what comes from me. You have such heart Katie, I can tell having little real knowledge of who you are. Thank you for the amazing compliment, it means a lot. There are so many great poets here, we are so lucky. Anni ~~~ "... sometimes I hear my voice - And it's been here .... Silent All These Years" ~Tori Amos.
Geezer

Geezer

17 years ago

Lady Luck .......

Lady Luck has truly blessed me,with the finding of this site and all the great and awsome poets here. I can say without reservation that I have found some of the greatest friends I will ever have right here. You and Katie have been and are the best! I do not belittle any of the others on my buddy list or this site,for that matter. But you two have become very dear to me. You have different styles and equal talent. I have been quite busy with family matters as of late and haven't posted much,but have kept up with everyone as much as possible lately. I have had some respite from the drama that follows our family,and will be posting more. I like the fact that you look for my poems like I look for yours,it makes me feel special. Thank you,Gee.
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

17 years ago

"somehow we’re connected and a tiny bit more whole"

I have to agree with you Anni a little here and there but I am tired tonight as the thunder gods have made the 'air' in my brain heavy and I have not the energy to do anything. this is a lovely idea and one that we all feel is a part of ourselves as you suggest. "I write the labyrinth and it brings me home" "since I burned the crib"...........is this equivalent to burning the Bhudda? "Well maybe somehow we’re connected and a tiny bit more whole" "and set some longing free" Yes you do. This will be interesting, love from Ann of Norway
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

I can see how I have benefitted from this wonderful place on rea

Hey my dearest Ann, thank you as ever, this is a comparitively old write, I can see how I have benefitted from this wonderful place on reading it (yes I know I should rewrite it, but have not the time right now & it isn't bad to see the comparison I think). & you have picked some of the better lines I think. & of course it is to some extent OUR story all of us who write, though I know we are not all the same. The line about the crib was a tricky one, it was for effect more than anything, it didn't feel like enough to suggest I had just LEFT the crib, I chose burned & hoped for the grace of "poetic lisence" I suppose. But it was also to evoke that sense I have that it was not an easy transition for me, I never had a safe childhood & there was no access to the comfort I feel babies & children SHOULD have, so that's what that ref is about... Don't fret I am way over it & at peace now, I love where it has taken me, I am far more able to be effective & powerful in the things I do because of that history.~ Anni ~~~ "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." -Anon
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

Hi lovely Blanka, thank you, I have changed that line a bit now

Hi lovely Blanka, thank you, I have changed that line a bit now, I think the poem needs a bit of work actually, but I want to spend the time reading the writing of all the great writers here. I have had a terrible series of flu's the last 4-5weeks, never been so ill so long, but am beginning to recover, however, I have lost my voice & it is hard to have it recover since almost everything I do requires me to sing (otherwise, no income), so I am not ready to record anything to go into the public arena at the moment, but I will in a few weeks maybe, this one would not be my pick though. Hope you're enjoying your time here, I'm sure everyone will adore you, you're writing is so very wonderful. Cheers Anni~ Anni ~~~ "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." -Anon
P

paparazii

17 years ago

We poets, there many of us in us

Well, i mean voices snarring and pressing to be let free from the heart and mind where the exploration of things thought to come and all that we've left behind, even those never imagined to exist, the poet brings to existence. I just hate the idea that these days, a pen is not muchly into writing but the comp, but it's always a great thing that writers do, a notebook and a pen when out for a day, and outside is where the call calls at certain points in life. It's like magic, we're the gods and so we create through words. Lovely poem--hey
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

And yes, I LOVE writing with pen & paper

Hello, yes I agree with everything you have written here, I've said the same before, we are so lucky as writers I think, to be able to express our feelings so well & to touch & move people with our words. And yes, I LOVE writing with pen & paper, actually I often write with a fountain pen as well, that's really old fashioned. It's only recently that I have written poems straight onto the computer, but I do love the page much more, something magic & comforing about that process for me. Take care x~ Anni ~~~ "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." -Anon
I

iverhyck

17 years ago

Reply

It's the best work I've read today. Like a jentle tune. Congratulations. Konstantin.
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

a gentle tune is a lovely way to describe that to me since my li

Thanks Konstantine, very kind of you. What a nice way to say that, a gentle tune is a lovely way to describe that to me since my life evolves around music.~ Anni ~~~ "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." -Anon
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

there are some bits I like, cos it's about us... what WE do

Yeah funny isn't it, really feel like I've moved since writing this. Though there are some bits I like, cos it's about us... what WE do. xxx~ Anni ~~~ "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." -Anon
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

17 years ago

Burning the Bhudda

Is to achieve Nirvana, to reach the final goal without the 'godhead' it was not an act of blasphemy. Yes we all learn through our own histories, IF we learn that is! I HOPE I have, and wish you well in your next stage of the journey dear Anni from Ann of Norway
ID

Ink Dragon

17 years ago

Hi Anni,

I remember this one from the contest. You have been working on it, haven't you? I think there were a few little differences to the original piece...or is my memory failing? I particularly like the last line here: "But mostly it's a blessing to embrace the writer's curse", such a clever contradicition and so true! It reminds me of this quote by Mark Haddon: "(...) poetry is slow, frustrating and poorly rewarded work and is therefore embarked upon largely by men and women labouring under a sense of almost religious vocation, grandiose self-delusion or both." Yours, ~Nina
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

fantastic quote, thank you Nina, lovely to see you here, with th

Hah, fantastic quote, thank you Nina, lovely to see you here, with that mystreious almost brooding pic, it makes me smile & want to grab you for a hug to be honest (chuckle). Yes, I think this was the original poem then I had not read the details properly & it had to be shorter so I had to cull lots, but I couldn't actually find the culled version, I suppose it will be here somewhere, I didn't think of that. Anyway, it's worth seeing the progress, I have changed a little, but it needs more, but I am scrabbling for time, & feel I need to respond to these wonderfully supportive & encouraging comments & then go read the work of all of you wonderful writers as my priority will come back to this if time permits. Oh & I'm glad that little irony in the last line did not escape you Take care xxx~ Anni ~~~ "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." -Anon

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